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SUGGESTED BOOK & MEDIA LIST for TREELEAF SANGHA

Hi,

The following is a recommended book list for our Sangha. It covers a variety of works on Zen, life, “Just Sitting” Shikantaza Zazen, Master Dogen and Buddhism in general. Thank you to all who provided input, and the list is still open to new suggestions and additions (I am trying to read about everything before it goes on the list. A few that I have not yet read I will try hard to read soon, and they come with very strong recommendations from others.). Please email or PM me (Jundo) with any further suggested titles.
I have tried to mark with ** those books recommended for beginners and any folks new to “Just Sitting” and our style of Zazen. New folks would do very well to just read down the list of ** books.

• Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi (but see Jundo's little caution on these popular books here: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...ll=1#post84611 )
• Zen Is Right Here by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi (a very short book of little quotes and lovely stories about Suzuki Roshi)
• A Heart To Heart Chat On Buddhism With Old Master Gudo by Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi (Jundo Cohen, Translator. New Edition released 2015 [AMAZON LINK]) **
• To Meet the Real Dragon, Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi
• "Hardcore Zen" and "Sit Down and Shut Up" by Brad Warner **
• Nothing Special: Living Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck **

and

• Everyday Zen: Love & Work by Charlotte Joko Beck **
• Inside the Grass Hut: Living Shitou's Classic Zen Poem by Ben Connelly **
• Realizing Genjokoan: The Key to Dogen's Shobogenzo by Shohaku Okumura Roshi **
• Bringing the Sacred to Life: The Daily Practice of Zen Ritual by John Daido Loori Roshi (A wonderful wonderful short book on Buddhist practices. Please see our Treeleaf RECOMMENDED 'AT HOME' LITURGY here: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...t-home-liturgy ) **
• Street Zen, The Life and Work of Issan Dorsey, by David Schneider
• The Song of the Wind in the Dry Tree by Philippe Rei Ryu Coupey
• Zen, Simply Sitting by Philippe Rei Ryu Coupey
• No Death, No Fear by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh
• Asking about Zen: 108 Answers, Rev. Jiho Sargent
• The Art of Just Sitting, edited by John Daido Loori (2004 edition; with Jundo's caution regarding certain essays featuring a very aggressive form of Shikantaza from the Yasutani-Harada lineage)
• Returning to Silence by Dainin Katagiri Roshi
• You Have to Say Something by Dainin Katagiri Roshi
• The Zen Teaching of "Homeless" Kodo by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (new edition recently issued!)
• Commentary on the Song of Awakening: [Master Kodo Sawaki's] Commentary on the Seventh Century Poem by the Chinese Ch'an Master Yung-chia Hsuan-chueh, translated by Tonen O'Connor
• One Robe One Bowl by Ryokan
• Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan, translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi
• Bankei Zen: Translations from The Record of Bankei translated by Peter Haskel
• Mud and Water: The Teachings of Zen Master Bassui translated by Arthur Braverman
• The Zen Teaching of Huang Po translated by John Blofeld (in combination with reflections on the history, misunderstandings, context and philosophical perspectives of this text: "Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism" by Dale S. Wright)
• Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen
• Meditation Now or Never by Steve Hagen
• Sen Seeds, Reflections of a Female Priest, by Shundo Aoyama
• Zen Women: Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens and Macho Masters by Grace Schireson
• Zen and the Brain by Dr. James Austin (series of very thick, often dense books on medical research on meditation)
• Lotus In The Fire: The Healing Power of Zen by Jim Bedard (a painful "hell and back" diary of the author, a Zen practitioner's, journey through chemo-therapy. My short review here: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...us-in-the-Fire )
• Snow falling in Moonlight by Tai Sheridan, a Zen priest in the lineage of Suzuki roshi, great stuff, odes in praise of key Shobogenzo chapters.
• Living Zen: The Diary of an American Zen Priest by Daiho Hilbert.
• Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart
• Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong by Norman Fischer
• The Essence of Chan: A Practical Guide to Life and Practice according to the Teachings of Bodhidharma by Guo Gu (Chinese Chan comes in many flavors, as does Zen in general. This book presents Teachings very much echoing our Shikantaza Ways, comments on one of the few writings that historians believe may actually have been composed by Bodhidharma)
• Just This Is It: Dongshan and the Practice of Suchness by Taigen Dan Leighton
• My Christian Journey with Zen by Gustav Ericsson (This is by my Dharma Brother Gustav, fellow student of Nishijima Roshi, and Lutheran Priest)

BEST BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS INTRODUCING BASIC ZEN/BUDDHISM IN GENERAL:
• Buddhism For Dummies by Jonathan Landaw & Stephan Bodian (Jundo: I have been looking for a very long time for a book for people very new to Buddhism who want to know basic information and all the many flavors of Buddhist schools, their beliefs and practices. Despite the silly title, this is a very smart, well written, comprehensive and detailed yet easy (and fun) to read, humorous and serious guide, covers most of the major bases and in quite some detail, gives fair treatment to the many flavors of Buddhism, is very down to earth about the more magical aspects of Buddhism (it tries to present a more psychological than literal take on Karma and Rebirth, for example) .... and it covers everything and the kitchen sink. I learned a thing or two. I just wish they would change the title. If I have one criticism, I wish they had done a better job in contrasting the various approaches of Zen. I recommend this book primarily for people very new to Buddhism in general.).................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...................**

• Simple Guide to Zen Buddhism by Diana St. Ruth (Jundo: For folks who are completely new, puzzled and perplexed about Zen Buddhism's history and practices of various flavors. It is detailed in its explanation, balanced and quite comprehensive in the many topics it covers. I would not recommend the book for anyone who had been practicing for even a few months, but it may still answer some questions and be good to give to your dad or sister who is completely confused by what we are doing here ... and may think that we are wearing bed sheets while dancing in drum circles with the Dalai Lama during the Soltice. As with any book, it is not perfect. It could still do even a better job in explaining the various different approaches of Soto and Rinzai, Koan Centered Zazen and Shikantaza ... but they are touched upon. But compared to most other books on the subject, it is well researched, comprehensive, very balanced and gets it right.).................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...................**

BASIC BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY:
• Buddhist Thought, A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition, Paul Williams and Anthony Tribe. (Jundo: Although meant as an introductory textbook, still wonderfully detailed ... although the writing is poor in places. I recommend this somewhat ahead of the next two books, by Walpola Rahula and David Kalipahana, for both readability and the presence of less of a personal religious ideology that tends to cloud the impartiality of those other books)
• What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition by Walpola Rahula (Jundo: Very good book, a very traditional Theravada outlook however)
• History of Buddhist Philosophy: Continuities and Discontinuities by David J. Kalupahana (Jundo: A wonderful book, although the author tends to insist on one interpretation of "what the Buddha said", even in debated or ambiguous areas, according to the author's tradition of Buddhism).
• In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon, Bhikkhu Bodhi (Editor)
• The Life of the Buddha by Bhikkhu Nanamoli
• Mahayana Buddhism, The Doctrinal Foundations, by Paul Williams
• Faces of Compassion by Taigen Dan Leighton (a wonderful, engaging introduction to the Great Bodhisattva, and what the Bodhisattvas are all about. Very recommended)**
• Buddhism Is Not What You Think by Steve Hagen **
• Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor
• Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, by Stephen Batchelor (Read Jundo's review here: http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...ll=1#post60574 )
• Understanding Our Mind, by Thich Nhat Hanh (Jundo: A very good introduction to traditional Buddhist models of the mind, seeking to make them relevant for today).

• Living by Vow: A Practical Introduction to Eight Essential Zen Chants and Texts by Shohaku Okumura (I would recommend it perhaps a little more for those with a bit of sitting under their belt, rather than our new new beginners. ) **
• The Heart Sutra: A Comprehensive Guide to the Classic of Mahayana Buddhism by Kazuaki Tanahashi

and

• The Heart Sutra by Red Pine (Bill Porter)

and

• Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on Heart Sutra by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh
• The Zen Teachingsof Bodhidharma, Translated by Red Pine
• The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch by Hui-neng and Philip Yampolsky (The earlier, simpler 'Dun Huang' Version, recommended by Jundo, also available online: http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachings/ ... polsky.pdf . As well, a later, more elaborate version from the 13th century, in which many more writers had a hand, is available online: here http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachings/ ... lation.pdf ) **

• Cultivating the Empty Field, The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi, Taigen Dan Leighton
• Soto Zen ANcestors in China (The Recorded Teachings of Shitou Xiqian, Yaoshan Weiyan and Yunyan Tansheng) by James Mitchell (writings and stories attributed to these root ancestors of the Soto tradition)
• Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Talks on the Sandokai by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
• Trust In Mind by Mu Soeng (Comments on the Xin Xin Ming; A bit too philosophical perhaps, and a bit broad brush in painting the history of interaction between Indian Buddhism and Taoism, but generally on the right track and an excellent description of this classic early Zen Teaching)
• The Lotus Sutra, Gene Reeves translator (the most readable translation of the wild Mahayana story book)
• The Diamond Sutra, translated by Red Pine

• Mulamadhyamakakarika of Nagarjuna: The Philosophy of the Middle Way by Nagarjuna and David J. Kalupahana
• The Vimalakirti Sutra, translated by Burton Warson

or

• The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti, Robert Thurman translator
• The Lankavatara Sutra, translated by Red Pine (a wonderful, informative new translation of this Sutra highly valued in early Chan Buddhism. I would recommend this over the following much older and rougher translation by Suzuki, although masterful too)

or

• The Lankavatara Sutra, translated by D.T.Suzuki (in a pair with "Studies in the Lankvatara Sutra" by D.T.Suzuki)
• A Treasury of Mahayana Sutras, translated by Garma C.G. Chang (a highly readable, lovely translation of a set of "typical" Mahayana Sutras covering subjects ranging from Emptiness to the Precepts to the Pure Land and more)

• Zen Buddhism, Volume 2: A History (Japan) by Heinrich Dumoulin
• The Record of Transmitting the Light (Keizan Zenji's Denkoroku), F. Cook
• Living and Dying in Zazen (Biographies of Sawaki Roshi, Uchiyama Roshi and others associated with Antai-ji) by Arthur Braverman
• Zen Master Who? by James Ford (telling the story of the various Zen Lineages in the West, though mostly the U.S. Look for Jundo Cohen on page 140! plug plug ) **
• Zen Ritual, Studies in Zen Buddhist Theories in Practice, ed. by Steven Heine (various scholars essays on the history of various Zen Rituals)
• How Zen Became Zen by Morten Schlütter
• Seeing Through Zen, Encounter, Transformation, and Geneology in Chinese Chan Buddhism, John R. McRae
• Soto Zen in Medieval Japan, William M. Bodiford
• The Other Side of Zen, A Social History of Soto Zen Buddhism in Tokugawa Japan, Duncan Ryuken Williams
• Once-Born, Twice Born Zen, by Conrad Hyers (Essay contrasting "Hard" Rinzai-style Koan Practice and "Just Sitting" Soto Practice)
• Eat Sleep Sit, Kaoru Nonomura (Diary of a young monk's year of training at Eiheiji monastery ... think 'marine bootcamp')
• Two Shores of Zen: An American Monk’s Japan by Jiryu Mark Rutschman-Byler. (a fascinating diary of a fellow's overly idealistic attempt to find the "real Zen" in Japan. However, ahead of this book, I highly recommend the following very funny book, which is much the same story ... but with more a needed sense of humor: Thank You and Okay: An American Zen Failure in Japan by David Chadwick]

• The Book of Equanimity (with commentary by Shishin Wick). (Jundo: A wonderful interpretation of the classic Koans from a Soto-ish flavor. **
Also available is the "Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues by Thomas Cleary", although this lacks Shishin Wicks 'bring it down to earth' commentary).
• Gateless Barrier: Zen Comments on the Mumonkan by Zenkai Shibayama Roshi
• Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo (Koan Collection) by Gudo Nishijima Roshi

• The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics by Robert Aitken Roshi
• Zen at War by Brian Victoria (Some warning about gross historical inaccuracies and fabrications in the book, however http://sweepingzen.com/zen-war-autho...r-jundo-cohen/)
• The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call to Action by Ken Jones
• The New Buddhism by David Brazier
• At Hells Gate by Claude Anshin Thomas
• The Heart of Being, Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen Buddhism, John Daido Loori
• Living with the Devil: A Buddhist Meditation on Good and Evil, by Stephen Batchelor (a wonderful, rich series of essays and reflections on wrestling with good and bad. Lovely, and to be read in small bites.)
• A New Buddhist Path by David Loy
• Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution by David Loy
• The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory by David Loy
• A Buddhist History of the West by David Loy

• The Life and Letters of Tofu Roshi, by Susan Moon
• Thank You and Ok, An American Zen Failure in Japan, David Chadwick
• Zen Speaks, a wonderful and fun series of Zen Stories and bits of Chinese Wisdom, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. In Chinese with English subtitles. **